Throwback Thursday - Guacamelee

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Up to the plate this week: The game of dimensional shifts and brutal fists that is Guacamelee.

Released in the US on April 9th, 2013, Guacamelee is a unique action platformer / brawler with heavy influences of the Metroidvania exploration and upgrade mechanics.  In fact, even the statues in which your luchador busts open for new abilities are referred to as Chozo statues, a direct reference to the Metroid series.  Guacamelee features many references and throwbacks to games of old, proud to display the rich history that has helped shape this game into what it is today.  However, with a unique blend of game mechanics, a colorful and lively art direction inspired from Mexican culture and folklore, some delicious fresh beats and tunes, and a delightfully silly sense of humor, Guacamelee is able to stand out as a creatively ambitious game of its own.

Tabletop Tuesday - 7 Wonders

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game of science and finance that is 7 Wonders.

Players: 2-7
Time: 30-45 minutes
Genre: Strategy

A Sleepy Surprise

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By Design: The Death of the Game Over

You may have seen the recent headlines on certain gaming outlets or Twitter: There will be no GAME OVER screen to be seen in Super Mario Odyssey.  Instead, players will lose 10 coins from their collected total and continue from their last checkpoint.  Sound familiar to other open-world sandbox games?  Is this a change long over due?  What does the future hold for the iconic 1-up mushroom and classic extra-life sound effect?  Do Game Over's and extra life mechanics still hold any relevance in today's gaming medium?  With these questions in mind, join us in our first design discussion as we dive into the origins and evolution of the Game Over.

Game Over screen from Super Mario 3D World for Wii-U.

Before the days of home consoles, video games had their explosive start in arcades.  At a token / quarter a pop, developers put in certain gameplay mechanics to motivate players to keep playing their games, such as leader-boards or the infamous Game Over / Continue screen.  By making games brutally difficult and allowing the player to buy more lives at the cost of a few more quarters, developers were able to earn additional revenue on their games as players fine-tuned their skills and sought out to reach the coveted ending.  Many modern arcade games share the same conventions today as this mechanic is well suited for the challenging and short nature of these games.

Throwback Thursday - Elite Beat Agents

Welcome to another Throwback Thursday, our weekly look into my Top 100 games and general nostalgia.  Swinging to the beat this week: The game of funky grooves and slick moves that is Elite Beat Agents.

Released in the US on November 6th, 2006, Elite Beat Agents is perhaps one of the greatest music / rhythm games of its time, with its absurd plots and a splendid sense of humor.  Each song / mission in the game sets the stage with a striking comic-like style, depicting a crazy tale on the brink of disaster.  It is in these moments of utmost distress that these trio of Elite Beat Agents are sent to dance and cheer the woeful characters back into good favor, accompanied by a selection of slick tunes to boot.  Making great use of the Nintendo DS dual screens, players will tap, trace, and spin their dance moves on the bottom screens as the story unfolds on the top screen.  Depending on the accuracy and timing of the player's gameplay, the story will react accordingly and offers a multitude of scenes and endings of negative and/or positive effect.

Tabletop Tuesday - Bang!

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game of dynamite and gun fights that is Bang!

Players: 4-7
Time: 20-40 minutes
Genre: Casual Card / Deduction Game

Matchmakers

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